Roundup
The OPRF Hockey Club won three straight games last week to push its overall record to 17-10-1.
The Huskies edged Naperville Central 3-2 on Sunday at Ridgeland Common. Phillip O’Connor netted the game-winner at 9:38 in the second period. Goalie Tanner Houston then shut down the Redhawks the rest of the way, turning away 48 shots on goal for the game. Michael Slovak scored OPRF’s first goal at 10:20 in the first period, but Naperville Central came right back with a goal two minutes later. Slovak responded with another goal at the 8:44 mark.
On Saturday night in Romeoville the Huskies fought off Neuqua Valley to preserve a 7-6 victory in a penalty-marred game. OPRF’s win avenged an earlier lopsided loss to Neuqua Valley. The Huskies received goals from Slovak (2 goals), Adrian Blamires (2), Jonah Rice (2) and Stephen Weik. O’Connor added three assists along with two by Slovak (4 points on the night). Gar Lauerman and Evan Vondresak also garnered assists in the win. Houston finished with 42 saves on the 48 shots he faced to seal the win.
On Dec. 5, the Huskies skated to a 5-3 win over York. Goals were scored by O’Connor, John Michels, Slovak, Vondresak and Rice. Houston stopped 32-of-35 shots he faced.
OPRF sends seven of its players to the Metro West All-Star game in Glen Ellyn on Friday night. Houston, Kevin Meegan, O’Connor, Dean Rogers (injured), Rice, Slovak and Vondrasek will represent OPRF.
The Huskies go out to Glen Ellyn on Saturday to take on the Bartlett Hawks. They return to Ridgeland Common on Sunday to take on Naperville North (6:10 p.m.).
OPRF grapplers still perfect
The OPRF wrestling team stayed undefeated on the season with two victories last week. Despite being without grapplers Chris Hampton (illness) and Colin Weir (injury) the Huskies (6-0, 2-0) downed West Suburban (Silver) Conference foe York 39-20 on Friday and West Aurora 35-29 on Saturday.
OPRF’s Ben Brooks (189-pound weight class), Gary Milton (215) and Krys Watkins (285) all recorded wins in the match against York.
Lillashawn Coleman returned to the lineup after missing the early part of the season due to grade issues. Lillashawn (125) won by pin on Saturday, while Watkins defeated the No. 5-rated heavyweight in the state in double overtime.
“Krys wrestled unbelievable all weekend,” said OPRF head coach Mike Powell. “He maintains composure through the most difficult situations and is tireless.”
Ellis Coleman remained unbeaten at 130 pounds. Ellis has won 12 straight matches.
The Huskies travel to Kansas City, Mo. this weekend for the Toshiba Business Solutions Midwest Wrestling Classic. The tournament will consist of 33 returning state champions and 66 returning place winners.
“[This] will be a great test for all of our guys as they wrestle against the nations best,” said Powell. “It is our hope that the traveling will bring our team together and that the competition (each kid is guaranteed eight matches) will help tremendously in our preparations for the postseason.”
Five Friars go unbeaten
Five Fenwick wrestlers went undefeated in weekend action. Sophomores Nick (125) and Chris Dardanes (130), juniors Bobby Barnhisel (140) and Tim Reichel (171), and senior Kevin Caiafa (189) swept through two quads over the weekend, winning every match they grappled in.
At the Fenton quad on Saturday, the Friars downed the host 48-24, Addison Trail 51-24, and fell to Lake Park 39-34. On Friday at St. Ignatius, Fenwick again finished 2-1, falling to St. Patrick 49-24, after dismantling the host 63-9 and St. Laurence 54-24.
Huskies finish strong at relays
OPRF had two third-place finishes at the Bronco Relays held at Barrington on Saturday. The 400-yard medley relay team of Tommy Poulos, Sebastian Mestril, Eric Hallman, and Andrew Verticchio finished third in 3:56.23. The 300 breastroke relay team of Ethan Becker, Greg Barnes, Mestril and Luke O’Connell took third in 3:23.26.
On Friday, Hallman won both the 200-yard individual medley (2:03.25) and the 100-yard butterfly (:56.83) to lead his team past Downers Grove South and Riverside Brookfield.
A press release contributed to this report.
